Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Avalon faces more hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avalon gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #307 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then earthquakes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1995.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Avalon faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Wildfire
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Avalon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Avalon, and Avalon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #307 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Avalon’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Avalon has less expected damage per building than 64% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Avalon: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Avalon flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Avalon, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Avalon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Los Angeles County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Avalon
Disasters that paid out in Avalon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Avalon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$97K to the City of Avalon for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$5K to the City of Avalon for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$14K to the City of Avalon for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$20K to the City of Avalon for repairs
Los Angeles County has had 40 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 44 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Los Angeles County, 2002–2025.
Old photos of Avalon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Avalon archive →Get ready for what Avalon faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Avalon
Is Avalon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avalon has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #307 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Avalon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Avalon since 1995, $56K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Avalon in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Los Angeles County, 33% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Avalon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Avalon’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Avalon?
By FEMA money that reached Avalon, Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): $97K to the City of Avalon for repairs.
Is Avalon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Avalon’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Avalon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Avalon’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.